State will have power in Congress: A DelBene vs. Heck rivalry?

If he lead holds up, Dr. Kim Schrier would be the only woman doctor in the House. She stands with fellow Democrats as she waits to speak Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, during a campaign event in Auburn, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

If he lead holds up, Dr. Kim Schrier would be the only woman doctor in the House. She stands with fellow Democrats as she waits to speak Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, during a campaign event in Auburn, Wash. (AP

If he lead holds up, Dr. Kim Schrier would be the only woman doctor in the House. She stands with fellow Democrats as she waits to speak Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, during a campaign event in Auburn, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

If he lead holds up, Dr. Kim Schrier would be the only woman doctor in the House. She stands with fellow Democrats as she waits to speak Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, during a campaign event in Auburn, Wash. (AP

Washington will have presence and power in the new Democrat-run U.S. House of Representatives, but with the potential for rivalry within a delegation likely to be composed of seven Democrats and three Republicans.

Longtime U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., will become chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Armed Services is a collegial panel, but Smith is likely to challenge President Trump's $1.5 trillion -- yes, trillion -- plan to build new nuclear weapons and expand the U.S. arsenal.

The Trump plan is "unrealistic and unaffordable," in Smith's words.

"Focusing on President Trump's new nuclear arms race would increase the risk of miscalculation, wreck the budget and detract from our ability to invest in cyber, information operations and our troops to counter serious threats to our security and efforts to undermine democracy."

Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., announced Wednesday she will run to chair the House Democratic Campaign Committee. Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash., was the DCCC's chief candidate recruiter in the just-completed cycle.

With the prospect of more than 100 "Gentle Ladies" in the House -- three quarters or more Democrats -- DelBene was able to note in a letter to colleagues:

"Democrats won back the House with the support of women, people of color and the LGBTQ community. These Americans are under attack by President Trump and his allies, and Democrats must empower them."

Heck won a coveted slot on the House Select Committee on Intelligence in his last term in Congress. The committee splintered as its GOP Chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes, D-Calif., tried to protect Trump during investigation of Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

"We will take over responsibility to complete and take seriously the Russia invetigation," Heck said in an interview.

If the Trump administration doesn't take the Intelligence Committee seriously, Heck had a response: "We have subpoena power." It will be used, he promised, "sparingly and carefully."

Heck is also a member of the House Financial Institutions Committee, which will be chaired by Trump nemesis Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

"I am 100 percent confident she (Waters) will be far more bipartisan than her predecessor," Heck said.

Although only beginning her second term, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., laid out her priorities in a national news conference on Wednesday: Correct inequities in the big tax cut plan passed by the Republican-run Congress.

"Our work ahead is clear," said Jayapal. The Republicans' tax plan has had a "disproportionate effect on peoples of color -- Income inequality is built into the plan."

Jayapal will be a leader among House progressives. She noted that the incoming House class includes two Muslim-American women, as well as the first two Native American women to serve in the "people's House."

If her lead holds up, Dr. Kim Schrier will be the first Democrat to represent the 8th Congressional District in the 38 years since it was created.

The House leadership used to ignore first-term members, demanding obedience but taking the "newbies" seriously only if they secured a second term.

The picture has changed. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Majority PAC invested enormous resources in Schrier's race against Republican Dino Rossi. They have an investment in the new "Gentle Lady from Washington."

Schrier wants to serve on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. She joked Monday night about having "no chance" of getting on the panel. It took Gov. Jay Inslee four terms while he was in Congress.

But . . . Schrier pointed out she would be the "only woman doctor in the House" and added: "I would represent a missing voice in Congress."

The three Democratic House members elected in 2012 quickly rose through the ranks, while they were in the minority party.

Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., is on the House Appropriations Committee. Heck has prospered on Financial Services. DelBene is on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, and due to grab a seat on its trade subcommittee.

One Republican in the delegation gained enhanced stature on Tuesday.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., a member of the House Republican leadership, was not caught napping when formidable Democratic challenger Lisa Brown came on the scene. McMorris Rodgers worked early and hard, and beat Brown by more than 20,000 votes.

Columnist Joel Connelly has written about politics for the P-I since 1973.